Smyrna Town Hall gets place on the state historic registry
SMYRNA – The history of the Smyrna Town Hall is long and complex. The building has been used as an opera house, a movie theater and as classrooms for the area school.
Now, 101 years after the facility was built, it has been added to the New York State Historic Registry.
According to Smyrna Historian Robert Matteson, the town’s first meeting was held in 1808, but for nearly 100 years, there was no official meeting place. Meetings were held in various offices around the town. It wasn’t until Feb. 12, 1907 that the town passed a proposition to build the Town Hall.
The current Smyrna Town Hall is located on the Corner of School Street and Academy Street. Until 1900, a house stood on the current site, but a large fire in 1900 wiped out much of the town’s center, including many businesses located on the main street, the Opera House and many of the homes lining Academy Street.
On March 9, 1907, the town board agreed to purchase the current property for $250. The town sold bonds to raise the money to build the town hall, an amount they agreed would not exceed $4,000.
The town hall was built quickly, but soon after it was completed, the building was leased. On Dec. 3, 1907, the town board agreed to lease the building to G.A. Munson, a member of the town board and the owner of the original opera house for the price of $150 a year. Munson utilized the facility as the new opera house. The building contained a stage and a large balcony seating area, which remain in the building today, although they have been blocked off and are not in use.
In 1921, the building, still in use by the opera house, was wired for electricity, and the town agreed to rent the building to C.W. Humphrey and C.H. Parker for moving pictures. Humphrey and Parker paid $5 a night for the first six months and $7 per night for the following six months.
On May 17, 1954, the town passed a resolution allowing the building to be leased to the Town of Sherburne Central School District for a term of three years at an annual cost of $2,000. The building had to be remodeled to accommodate the changes, which cost the town less than $6,000.
After 101 years, the town hall has returned to be the town hall, and with a rich and diverse history, Matteson was able to get the building on the State Historic Registry. Matteson said the most interesting thing he had discovered in his search of the property’s history was that it was originally a part of a large farm, as were the adjacent properties and those across the street; however when the village began to develop, the a lot of the properties were parceled and sold off.
The Smyrna Town Hall will be featured in the stamp cancellation for the Smyrna bicentennial. The stamp cancellation will be available beginning at the Smyrna Band Concert on July 7. The event will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Smyrna Library. The stamp, which features a picture of the town hall and contains the words “Smyrna, NY Bicentennial Station 1808-2008,” will be used to cancel stamps for approximately 30 days after its unveiling. Commemorative envelopes containing images of Smyrna’s churches will also be available for purchase at the event, along with other souvenirs and commemorative items.
Now, 101 years after the facility was built, it has been added to the New York State Historic Registry.
According to Smyrna Historian Robert Matteson, the town’s first meeting was held in 1808, but for nearly 100 years, there was no official meeting place. Meetings were held in various offices around the town. It wasn’t until Feb. 12, 1907 that the town passed a proposition to build the Town Hall.
The current Smyrna Town Hall is located on the Corner of School Street and Academy Street. Until 1900, a house stood on the current site, but a large fire in 1900 wiped out much of the town’s center, including many businesses located on the main street, the Opera House and many of the homes lining Academy Street.
On March 9, 1907, the town board agreed to purchase the current property for $250. The town sold bonds to raise the money to build the town hall, an amount they agreed would not exceed $4,000.
The town hall was built quickly, but soon after it was completed, the building was leased. On Dec. 3, 1907, the town board agreed to lease the building to G.A. Munson, a member of the town board and the owner of the original opera house for the price of $150 a year. Munson utilized the facility as the new opera house. The building contained a stage and a large balcony seating area, which remain in the building today, although they have been blocked off and are not in use.
In 1921, the building, still in use by the opera house, was wired for electricity, and the town agreed to rent the building to C.W. Humphrey and C.H. Parker for moving pictures. Humphrey and Parker paid $5 a night for the first six months and $7 per night for the following six months.
On May 17, 1954, the town passed a resolution allowing the building to be leased to the Town of Sherburne Central School District for a term of three years at an annual cost of $2,000. The building had to be remodeled to accommodate the changes, which cost the town less than $6,000.
After 101 years, the town hall has returned to be the town hall, and with a rich and diverse history, Matteson was able to get the building on the State Historic Registry. Matteson said the most interesting thing he had discovered in his search of the property’s history was that it was originally a part of a large farm, as were the adjacent properties and those across the street; however when the village began to develop, the a lot of the properties were parceled and sold off.
The Smyrna Town Hall will be featured in the stamp cancellation for the Smyrna bicentennial. The stamp cancellation will be available beginning at the Smyrna Band Concert on July 7. The event will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Smyrna Library. The stamp, which features a picture of the town hall and contains the words “Smyrna, NY Bicentennial Station 1808-2008,” will be used to cancel stamps for approximately 30 days after its unveiling. Commemorative envelopes containing images of Smyrna’s churches will also be available for purchase at the event, along with other souvenirs and commemorative items.
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